We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire… Give us the tools and we will finish the job.
Sir Winston Churchill, radio broadcast February 9, 1941
Here is the gear for my 2018 PCT thru-hike. Extended comments about particular items are at the end. I found a great deal of variation on equipment choices among hikers. Many small gear vendors are in healthy competition, with frequent innovations and design updates.
Main blade, nail file with screwdriver tip, scissors, tweezers, and toothpick: the Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Knife is a marvel of design in a lightweight form factor respected by long distance hikers. I do not really need the toothpick, though, so can something else go in that slot? The plastic toothpick is roughly 1.75 inches long x 0.12 inches wide x 0.047 inches thick.
Swiss Army Knife SD Classic with toothpick
FireSteel.com sells blank rods of ferrocerrium in various sizes, including the FireSteel Tiny, 1/8 x 2 inches, at less than US$1.00 per rod. 1/8 inch is close to the width of the toothpick, so we just need to grind down one side flat, grind down most of the opposite side to a thickness of 0.047 inches. We must leave a thick tip at one end as with the plastic toothpick, to allow fingers to remove the gadget from the handle of the knife.
… You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need
— Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Rolling Stones
.
Category
Item
Notes
Weight in grams
Weight in oz
.
worn/carried
.
camp shirt
Icebreaker merino long sleeve crew
171
6.0
.
pants
RailRiders Eco-Mesh Pant
310
10.9
.
trailrunner shoes
Merrell Moab Ventilator
992
35.0
.
hiking gaiters
Dirty Girl
34
1.2
.
insole inserts
green SuperFeet
106
3.7
.
hiking socks
REI mid-calf merino
91
3.2
.
knee brace
Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Strap
.
bandana
AT logo cotton/poly bandana
30
1.1
.
trekking poles
Black Diamond Ultra Distance Z-pole with carbide tips minus straps
263
9.3
.
sun glasses
20
0.7
.
hat
Sunday Afternoons Adventure flap hat
70
2.5
.
.
Total worn/carried
2087
73.6
.
.
pounds:
4.6
.
.
.
pack
pack
ZPacks Arc Blast backpack
440
15.5
.
pack liner
trash compactor bag
60
2.1
.
cell phone holder
Zpacks cuben fiber shoulder pouch
8
0.3
.
phone
Android phone: MotoX (camera, GPS, etc)
136
4.8
.
.
Cook/water
water bottles
2 x 1.25 liter soda bottles
84
3.0
.
even more water
1 liter Platypus
30
1.1
.
cook stove
Trail Designs Caldera Sidewinder TiTri with Gram Cracker for Esbit fuel
21
0.7
.
butane lighter
Scripto Tiny Lite
12
0.4
.
cook pot
0.3Liter Evernew Titanium mug-pot with lid
74
2.6
.
pot cozy
homemade with Reflectix
25
0.9
.
spoon
lexan
9
0.3
.
water purifier
Sawyer Mini
81
2.9
.
water purification backup
10 MSR Aquatabs
1
0.0
.
food bag
ZPacks Roll Top Blast
40
1.4
.
rope
ZPacks 1.5 mm Z-Line Cord
21
0.7
.
.
Shelter
tarp/tent
ZPacks Hexamid solo tent w/screen
269
9.5
.
tent stakes
6 Tite Lite titanium stakes
37
1.3
.
tent stakes
1 titanium V Stake
9
0.3
.
.
Sleeping
sleeping bag
ZPacks 20F
650
22.9
.
sleeping pad
Gossamer Gear NightLight_Torso
101
3.6
.
ground cloth
Polycryo medium size
42
1.5
.
.
Clothes
camp shirt
Icebreaker merino short sleeve
139
4.9
.
camp shorts
GoLite men’s nylon shorts
132
4.7
.
warm top
Western Mountaineering down vest
125
4.4
.
warm hat
LLBean Trail Model fleece hat
36
1.3
.
rain jacket
GoLite Malpais Trinity
217
7.7
.
wind shirt
Montbell Tachyon anorak
63
2.2
.
fleece gloves
LLBean Polartec Liner Gloves (with AnyGlove on forefingers and thumbs)
38
1.3
.
rain mitts
ZPacks cuben fiber mitts
28
.
compression socks
Truform below knee stockings 20-30 mmHg
64
2.3
.
spare socks
SmartWool mid-calf merino
91
3.2
.
.
Misc
head net
“Sea to Summit” mosquito net, doubles as clothes bag
23
0.8
.
first aid kit
band-aids, molefoam, aspirin, loperamide, sudafed, super glue, …
61
2.2
.
sewing kit
home assembled
20
0.7
.
tooth care
dehydrated dots of toothpaste, toothbrush with trimmed handle, gum brush, floss
17
0.6
.
soap
Dr Bonner liquid in 0.5oz dropper bottle
24
0.8
.
wipes
8 dried wipes in zip bag
24
0.8
.
toiletry bag
no-see-um mesh bag 5″x6″
4
0.1
.
magnifying glass
credit card size fresnel lens
2
0.1
.
wallet with id
all-Ett sport sailcloth wallet (5g) plus cards
36
1.3
.
repair kit
duct tape, foil tape, etc
25
0.9
.
backup fire starter
Bic mini lighter
14
0.5
.
pen
ballpoint refill cartridge + spare
1
0.0
.
flashlight
Petzl e+Lite
27
1.0
.
backup compass
Suunto Clipper compass
4
0.1
.
maps
Ley maps, double-sided 8.5×11, current trail section
55
1.9
.
solar charger
Harbor Freight 5W folding solar panel, trimmed
240
8.5
.
usb charger
for phone and battery pack, Apple travel charger 5W wall wart
23
0.8
.
usb cable
9inch microUSB cable
13
0.5
.
recharger pack
Jackery Mini 3200mAh
82
2.9
.
headphone
Apple Earpod
11
0.4
.
itinerary+guide
only carry pages needed for that week
10
0.4
.
insect repellent
100% DEET repackaged in 0.5oz dropper bottle
23
0.8
.
sun screen
liquid, repacked in 0.5oz dropper bottle
24
0.8
.
toilet paper
partial roll, remove cardboard tube, in zip bag
20
0.7
.
knife
Victoronix Swiss Army Classic
20
0.7
.
accessory bag
no-see-um mesh bag 7″x9″
8
0.3
.
.
Total base weight
3894
137.4
.
.
pounds:
8.6
.
.
.
Sometimes carried
.
.
rain pants
233
8.2
.
shoe traction
Yak Trax Pro
144
5.1
.
neck gaiter
microfleece
46
1.6
Stove: No-cook sounds promising, but for frigid Colorado I was glad to bring a stove for hot dinners. Esbit fuel is easier to mail than alcohol, allowed in flat-rate Priority Mail boxes, though Heet is available in several Colorado trail town. Compared to alcohol, Esbit has an odor and leaves a residue on pots. I burned Esbit tabs exclusively on this trip as an experiment, and might continue solid fuel for future hikes. Continue reading “CDT 2014 CO Gear List”
Agatha Clay: People keep giving me rings, but I think a small death ray might be more practical.
— “Agatha Heterodyne and the Clockwork Princess”, by Phil and Kaja Foglio
.
Category
Item
Notes
Weight in grams
Weight in oz
.
worn/carried
.
camp shirt
SmartWool Microweight long sleeve crew
171
6.0
.
pants
RailRiders Eco-Mesh Pant
310
10.9
.
trailrunner shoes
Merrell Moab Ventilator
992
35.0
.
hiking gaiters
Dirty Girl
34
1.2
.
insole inserts
green SuperFeet
106
3.7
.
hiking socks
REI mid-calf merino
91
3.2
.
knee brace
Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Strap
.
bandana
AT logo cotton/poly bandana
30
1.1
.
trekking poles
Black Diamond Ultra Distance Z-pole with carbide tips minus straps
263
9.3
.
sun glasses
20
0.7
.
hat
Outdoor Research Helios sun hat
79
2.8
.
.
Total worn/carried
2096
73.9
.
.
pounds:
4.6
.
.
.
pack
pack
Zpacks Arc Blast backpack
440
15.5
.
pack liner
trash compactor bag
60
2.1
.
cell phone holder
Zpacks cuben fiber shoulder pouch
8
0.3
.
phone
Android phone: Defy XT 557 (camera, GPS, etc)
109
3.8
.
.
Cook/water
water bottles
2x 2 liter soda bottles
106
3.7
.
even more water
2x 1 liter Platypus
57
2.0
.
cook stove
Caldera system with alcohol stove in plastic cannister
133
4.7
.
fuel bottle
labeled 12oz soda bottle for methanol
22
0.8
.
butane lighter
Scripto Tiny Lite
12
0.4
.
cook pot
0.5Liter Evernew Titanium mug-pot with lid
74
2.6
.
pot cozy
homemade with Reflectix
25
0.9
.
spoon
lexan
9
0.3
.
water purifier
Sawyer Squeeze
81
2.9
.
water purification backup
repackaged Potable Aqua tablets
10
0.4
.
food bag
ZPacks Roll Top Blast
40
1.4
.
rope
ZPacks 1.5 mm Z-Line Cord
21
0.7
.
.
Shelter
tarp/tent
ZPacks Hexamid solo tent w/screen
269
9.5
.
tent stakes
6 Tite Lite titanium stakes
37
1.3
.
tent stakes
1 titanium V Stake
9
0.3
.
.
Sleeping
sleeping bag
Western Mountaineering SummerLite 32F
571
20.1
.
sleeping bag liner
Cocoon silk Mummy Liner
115
4.1
.
sleeping pad
Gossamer Gear NightLight_Torso
101
3.6
.
ground cloth
Polycryo medium size
42
1.5
.
.
Clothes
camp shirt
Icebreaker merino short sleeve
142
5.0
.
camp shorts
GoLite men’s nylon shorts
132
4.7
.
warm top
Western Mountaineering down vest
125
4.4
.
warm hat
LLBean Trail Model fleece hat
36
1.3
.
rain jacket
GoLite Malpais Trinity
217
7.7
.
wind shirt
Montbell Tachyon anorak
63
2.2
.
fleece gloves
LLBean Polartec Liner Gloves
38
1.3
.
compression socks
Truform calf length medium compression
42
1.5
.
spare socks
SmartWool mid-calf merino
91
3.2
.
.
Misc
head net
“Sea to Summit” mosquito net, doubles as clothes bag
23
0.8
.
first aid kit
band-aids, molefoam, aspirin, loperamide, sudafed, super glue, …
61
2.2
.
sewing kit
home assembled
20
0.7
.
tooth care
dehydrated dots of toothpaste, toothbrush with trimmed handle, gum brush, floss
17
0.6
.
soap
Dr Bonner liquid in 0.5oz dropper bottle
24
0.8
.
moist-wipes
8 wipes in zip bag
75
2.6
.
toiletry bag
no-see-um mesh bag 5″x6″
4
0.1
.
magnifying glass
credit card size fresnel lens
2
0.1
.
wallet with id
all-Ett sport sailcloth wallet (5g) plus cards
30
1.1
.
repair kit
duct tape, foil tape, sealer, etc
25
0.9
.
backup fire starter
Spark-Lite + 3 tinder wads
6
0.2
.
pen
ballpoint refill cartridge + spare
1
0.0
.
flashlight
Petzl e+Lite
27
1.0
.
backup compass
Suunto Clipper compass
4
0.1
.
maps
Ley maps, double-sided 8.5×11, current trail section
55
1.9
.
solar charger
Instapark M4S 4W folding solar panel with built-in 2,000 mAh battery pack
Water is scarce, with 20 miles to next reliable water source not uncommon in southern New Mexico, so a different pack capable of comfortably carrying 5 or 6 liters of water (over 10 pounds) a long distance is needed.
The extra water is heavy, so my frameless Mariposa pack will not do.
Available water is often turbid, which limits performance of UV water treatment. One of the new lightweight squeeze filters is used this trip.
The CDT is often cold, with big drops in nighttime temperatures, so a warmer sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and clothing are desirable.
With higher elevation and no “green tunnel”, sun exposure is greater. I decided to hike in long sleeve clothes, sun hat, and sunglasses. And a wide-brimmed hat is not sufficient to protect my face when hiking all day, so more sun screen is used.
Fewer trail towns mean I need a better charging solution for cell phone(gps/camera/mp3 player/ebook reader/journal/audio recorder) and I tried a folding solar panel mounted on top of my pack.
An electronic trail journal is now used in place of paper. I needed a better onscreen keyboard to get my typing rate up to an acceptable level. MessagEase is a free substitute keyboard that works for me, but has a really steep learning curve, so I needed to drill on the MessagEase Game every day from January to April before my trip. I might write about other phone apps useful for hiking in another post.
Equipment Experience
The light-weight merino long sleeve shirt worked fine as a camp shirt on the AT, but started wearing out when used as daytime clothing, especially under the pack straps. No amount of sewing kit repair could keep the shirt together by the final days of the trip.
One week I was running low on sun screen, having left my bottle at the last hotel. To keep my hands from burning I added thumb loops to my long-sleeved shirt. The seams at the wrist just happened to be placed in such a way as to keep my modification from ripping the material.
The solar panel with built-in battery pack was not enough to keep up with my cell phone charging requirements, so I also needed the external USB charger pack. I will try a different solar panel next year in hopes of not needing to supplement with my mophie. The solar panel was attached with mini side buckles sewn onto the panel fabric and backpack attachment straps, providing quick release to get access to the top opening of the pack.
Running gaiters kept small rocks and sand out of my shoes, so I almost never had to stop for a shoe break. The gaiters got pretty torn up by barbed wire fences, so were ready to be replaced by trip’s end at Cumbres Pass.
My Helios wide-brimmed hat was not enough to keep my face and neck from burning when hiking all day, especially when the sun was low in the sky. I needed to pin my bandana with safety pins on the brim for more shade.
The Caldera cooking system used on the AT performed well, but requires a separate plastic canister for storage. I tried transitioning to a home-made stove/windscreen/pot-support that fits inside my 0.5 liter pot for compact storage and to save weight. Plenty of wind can be expected on the CDT, so a good functioning wind screen is essential for alcohol stoves. I experimented with making several alcohol stove designs, but was not able to improve on the Caldera for cooking time and fuel use when I measured performance, so I stayed with the older equipment.
The Sawyer filter worked great, and was similar in weight to a Steripen, so I will keep using. I did include the syringe for backwashing the filter, and certainly needed it for New Mexico. During the day I kept the Sawyer screwed onto one of two 2-liter plastic soda bottles, stored in the lower outer side pockets of the pack. The soda bottles squeezed just as easily as a platypus bottle, and were quite durable and inexpensive. Do not screw on the filter too hard on the bottle threads, or you will chew up the washer and cause leakage during filtering.
I am used to hiking in shorts, but switched to long pants this trip for sun protection. The RailRiders performed well, did not bind at the knees, and allowed ventilation with the side zippered mesh.